Fruit pitter



July 7, 1925. 1,545,003

E. A. MEACHAM FRUIT PITTER Filed Jan. 29, 1.924 4 Sheets-Sheefc 1 July7, '1925. 1,545,003

E. A. MEAcHAM FRUIT PITTER Filed Jan. 29, 19u 4 sheetsqsnet v2 July 7,1925.-

E. A. MEACHAM y FRUIT PITTER Filed Jan. 29, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 July7, 1925.A

E. A, MEAcHAM FRUIT PITTER Filed Jan. 29, 124 4 sneets-sneet 4 PatentedJuly 7, 1925.

f* lUNITED STATES PATENT OFI-lolav ERNEST A. ,MEACHAIVL AOF OAKLAND,

y YORK.

y y Y y CALIFORNIA, AssIoNOR To ING CORPORATION, OE sAN FRANCISCO,CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW.

CALIFORNIA PACK- FRUIT RITTER.

Application filed January 29, 1924. Serial No. 689,263.

T LZZ whom' it may con-cern.:

Be it known that I, ERNEST A.MEACHAM,

a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing atl removing the pits i orsto-nes from the n been very.

' interior of fruit; and more particularly to a device for cutting the'pit free fromtthe iiesh ofthe fruit and. ejecting the Apit there from; iln the past', in preserving of fruitsl it has fdifiicult and expensiveto remove the pits from the center of the fruit and all the machines ordevices heretofore proposed, designed or constructed have been limitedto fruit that have p'its or stones of a definite contour and because oflthis have been very limited in their employment.

' 1t is, therefore, an object ofthis invention toprovide a machine bywhich the pits may be economically' and'quickly rremoved from therespective fruit 'specimens regardless of the variation in size andshape of the pits.

An object Yof this invention is to 'provide a fruit pitting machine'vwhich shall be easilyv and eifectually controlled by the operator.

An vobject of this vinvention is' tol provide a machine that will removethe pit from the fruit without damaging the fruit or cutting' a largeportion of the flesh therefrom.

An object of this invention is to provide a. machine for carrying outthe above named objects that is economical,to'construct, and is Vcompactand relatively small in size.

Further objects of this'inventi'on will ap'- pear in the followingdetailed description of which'the Vaccompanying drawings are a part.

In the drawings:

Figurel is aplan view'of a peach pitter constructed in accordance withthis invention. i Y

2 is a planl viewsimilar to Fig. 1 with the top casting, the clutch, andthe driven pulley removed.`

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section taken largely on the line3-3 of FigfQ.

Fig. l is a stantially on ,Figa 5 is a stantially on the lline sectionalelevation 'taken sub.

' Fig. 6 is a detail section of the knife handle guide plates showingthe knife guiding levers in their uppermost position in dotted lines.

Fig'. 7 is a sectional view of a spoon constructed in accordance withthis invention and showing the pivotal construction of the spoon bowl onthe shank. Y

Fig.V 8 is a detail view showing a side and an end elevation ofi a lowercam of guiding lever of knives.

9 is a detail view showing a side and end elevation of a knife bladezandshank.

Fig. 10 is a sideand end elevation of the spoon constructed inaccordance with this invention, showingin particular the' construction4of the shank.

' Fig.-11-is a side and an end elevation of the cani operated rocker,showing a' particular construction of its cam contact pins.

` FionllQ isk a side elevation ofv the `cani C) wheels used vin'connection with theV cam rockers shownin Fig. 11.A f Fig. 13 is an edgeelevation-of the-cam wheels of Fig. 12.

1l is a detail view showing a side and an vend 'elevation of bearingyokes used' in connection with this invention.

Y Fig. 15 is a'nf'e'nd elevation ofthe pads in contact with the fruitf'Fig 16 is a sectional view form of'spoon.

. In tlie"d'rawings having a removable cover hole 17 is`cored orotherwise drilled in the of a inodied 15 indicates the frame cover l16into which hole 17 the fruit is positioned; for holding the fruit inposition I prefer to employ the 'following construction.

A member 1S is adapted to slide ina slot 19 in the cover, said member issecurelylixed to a shaft 2O asindicated at 21'; the shaft is adapted toslide in a drill hole 22 in vthe 16 a spherical horizontal frame member23. A spring. 2l l is positionedonfsaid shaft and secured to the :lowerportion of the frame in such a manner as to hold the peach grippingdevice normally away from :the peach as clearly shown in Fig. 3 ofthefdrawings. to the upper portion 'of the member 18 are the plates' 25,wliiclnplates are riveted or otherwise secured to a pair of pads orplates 26 which are preferably of rubber -with curved Contact faces 261spaced to permit Secured of the insertion between them of slittingknives and spoons to be more fully described hereinafter. t

ln connection with this gripping device I also provide a pair of bentbracing members 27 to insure a members thereof.

To operate this gripping device I provide a series of pivoted members 28operable by pushing the handle 29;V to` cause the member 18 to be moveddownwardly which action results in the gripping and holding` of thefruit in position for the remoualv of the pit 30.l For tl'iis pitting, lprovide the following` arrangement of parte:

The power is transmitted from any suitable source (not shown) to thebelt pulley 3l, which pulley is loosely journaled on the drive shaft 32.The pulleyA 3l is rotating at all times' when the machine is in use andthe power is transmitted to the mechanism by means of connecting theVsaid rotating pulley te the shaft through operation of a punch pressclutch 32', having an annular groove 33 adapted to run on a clutchcontrol bar 34 said bar being pivoted to the frame l5; having a wedgeshaped terminal 35 angular to the walls of the groove and adapted tomove a notched pin 36 axially parallel to the shaft `within a recess 37within the clutch member 3,8 by engaging the notch of the pin The end ofsaid pin 36vwhen withdrawn by the wedge 35 forms a Hush surface vwiththe edge of the Yclutch member 38 and when the bar is liftedout of theclutch radially, the pin 36 is thrust by the action of' a spring 39longitudinally in extension of the end surface' of the clutch member 38recess 40 in the loos'e pulley 3l.

Keyed to the drive shaft 32'is a cylindrical plate 41 to whichA a camwheel '42 is adapted to vbe secured; a second cam wheel 43 is adapted tobe secured to the cam wheel 42. A rocker lever 44 isV pivoted to theframe plate 45 and hastwo cam 46 and 47 which are adapted to ridealternately on the raised cam surfaces' of the wheels 42 and 43; thepivot point being located between the two contact pins 46 and to engagea A47 to give a horizontal reciprocating motion to a link arm 48 whichis pivoted tothe rocker lever at 49.

rlhe link 48 is connected at its eXtreme end to a slide member 50through which pitting spoon handles 5l are adapted to slide.

The cam wheels shown in the drawings are serrated for only one-half ofthe circunirt'erence, the oscillating action required of the spoon beingcompleted in a half revolution thereof.

'Referring to Figs. 7 and 10, it will be clearly seen that the bowls'52have sharpened edges 10.0. These bowls are pivoted at 53 to handles 5lso as to allow the spoon bowls to rock forward and back in relaion rigidconnection between theY contact pins i to the said handles so that whenthe spoons are forced upward throughthe fruit and engage the pitthereof, they will tra-vel along the surface of the` pit while cuttingthe iiesh therefrom. This action is accompanied by the oscillation ofthe spoons caused by the action of the rocker contact pins 46, 47 on thecam wheels 42, 43. By this action of the spoon bowls V52 the pit is cutfrom the fruit without cutting away the flesh of the fruit.

The spoon handles are bent outwardly fronreach other formingshoulders 54and 55 of the spoons. The handles of the spoons, continued from theshoulders 54, 55 in a spaced relation, are secured to a slide member 56adapted to slide in a guideway 57 formed in the knife actuating member58.

The slide 56 is a portion of the spoon actuating member 59 as shown inFig. 4. The member 59 forms a slide 60 which is adapt-V ed to slide in asecond guideway 6l of the member 58. The slide 60 is pivoted to a lever62 which is in turn pivoted toY an eccentric connecting rod 63. By meansof a connecting member' 64, pivoted to the frame l5 on a shaft 65, thelever 62 is pivotally held in a position to cause the spoonV 52 totravel vertically.

The eccentric connecting rod 63 is secured to an eccentric 66 which iskeyed to the shaft 32. rlhe connections.provided at the base of spoonshanks allow by their pivotal relation a partial rotation of the spoonhandles 5l in a horizontal plane, in additionV to the oscillation orrocking of the bowls V52 as actu-ated through the rocker lever 44, asheretofore described. 1 f

The. slide 56 to which the pitting spoon handles 5 1 are pivoted isguided'in the slidewayv 57 by the guide plates 67 which are securelyriveted thereto. The spoon handles' 5l are pressed toward each other bysprings 68. secured between guide plates 67 and the guide 5.6.

Keyed to the drive shaft 32, Vhaving a greater eccentric action thanthat of the eccentric 66, is a second eccentric 69 pivotally connectedthrough the rigid eccentric connecting rod 70, to the lever 7l, whichlever 7l is pivotally connected at one end to a pivot member 72 pivotedto a shaft 73 journaled on the frame; at its other end, the member 7l ispivoted to the member 58, as shown at 74.

Pivoted at 79 to member 58 are knife shank members 76 and 77 which areheld in position bythe yokes 78, said yokes being secured at the pivot 79 landl to theplate 58. The yokes 78 are so positioned as to giveadditional bearing to the knife shanks to hold the knives in verticalposition.

seV

lill) Secured to the upper portion of the mem Y and 77 have. the camshaped surfaces S8 which form the bea-ring on'the frame plates S-l andy35 members to hold the knives in the desired position, by fulcrumingv onlthe pivots 79. Y Y

On the` member 84 is positioned an adjustable cam surface member 86which is adapted to force the lowerend of the shank 7 6 outward anddisengage the knife blades 82 from the. pit 30." j

In themeniber 85 there is provided a slot S7 adapted to receive the camS8- of the knife shank to permit the knife blade 77 VAto `be throwntowardk the pit of thel fruitaud thereby eject the pit from the fruitlafter the pit has been released from engagement with the spoons as abovedescribed. yIn order :to permit the timing of this action; the member 85is adjustably'secured'on the outer frame member. l

In order to hold the knives with their edges in contact with the pit, inthe. position shown in the dotted lines of Fig 3, the upper knife shanksSi. arev adaptedr toA slide' in the slideways 89 which slideways 89 :areformed of plates' 90 and rocker connecting rods 91 spaced apartfby anysuitable means. The rocker connecting rods 91 are 'pivoted at theirextremeends to rocker members 92 pivoted on the shaft 93 journaled Vto'the frame. Pivoted to the rocker members 92 at their opposite ends arethemembers 9d which slide inslots 96 in the frame. Helical springs 97are positioned on the membersv 9l and held in position between the frameand the collars 93, secured tok the members 94. y The springs are sopositioned that by their tension on the knives they are either held inthe position shown in Fig. 3 or in' contact with the pit. Y I

For manual operation of this nia-chine, l prefer to provide a hand wheel99 shown in Fig. l and keyed to the shaft 32. V

The operation is asfollows:

The operator with his right Ahand `places the fruit in the detent orkcored spherical hole 17V in the cover 16 so that the-eirposed endsV ofthe spoon bowls 52 piercefthe flesh of the fruit, one on either side ofthe base of the pit 30, and with theA seam of the fruit and pitapproximately in the plane of the slitting knives. `With the left hand,the operator holds the fruit in this 'position by pushing downward onthe handle 29 of the gripping mechanism, which action resulte` in thegripping plates 26 engaging the fruit. With his righ-t hand the operatortrips the clutch 32 by a downward stroke on the clutch lever 34, whichinduces the follow'- ing operation byone rotation of the drive shaft 32y The slitting knives are thrust upward through the flesh of the fruitin thefplane of the sea'mj the edges of said knives being held inContact with the pit by the pressure of the spring 97 asheretoforedescribed'. it the top of the upward stroke of the knives the'b-ackknife blade 83 is mechanically held out of contactv with the pit, by theaction of the cam surface 7 8 on the shoulder 86 as fully describedabove,.to allow the spring action on the forward knife to thrust the pitout from the peach between the spoons. During the s ame upward thrust ofthe knife r the spoons are thrust upwardthrough the flesh of the fruitadjacent to the pit, their paths being determinedby the followingrfactors: 1

A. Upward thrust of thev spoons by slide.A B; Oscillation forward andVback) actuated by cam wheels as fully described above. C. Partialrotation on an approximately vertical axis, which rotation is induced bythe lateral sliding of the concave spoons on the convex 'fruit pitsurface. e 1). Partial rotation on an approximately horizontal axisparallel to the seam of the fruit as fully describediin connection withthe pivot ofthe spoon bowl on the shank thereof. Y f

' The factors Cfand D result from the action ofthe concavesurface ofthespoon being moved in contact lwith the convex sin:- face of the' pit ofthe fruitso held in contact by lthe action of the springs G3 on thespoon shanks. The' combination of these forces produce a ball and socketContact of the pit and the spoons; the oscillation of the spoons gives ashearing actionto their cutting edges, which -action is superior to aimere thrust. At the top of the upward thrust of the knives the'flesh ofthe fruit has been slitted on an.approximately central plane and thepit- 'has' been separated from the flesh of each half and thrusttherefrom by the action of the knives asdescribed above. Thesaid'operator now releases the pressure on the gripper lever and thehalves yof the fruit are free to fall away laterally on "the inclinedtop surface ofthe (over` plate. The shaft 32 has been rotated once andVonev complete pitting cycle has been concluded. 1 Y

In Figure 16 I have shown a modifica'- tion V'of the spoon, the Vspoonhandle being indicated at 51, the bowl at 52a and then` joint betweenthe-bowl and handlebeing formed by a ball 53a and socket 53". The ballis connected with the main .portion of the handle by an angularlyextending neck 100 of circular cross section which lits a slot 101 inthe spoon bowl.V 'Ihis enables Athe spoon bowl to be turned in twodifferent planes that lie at a right angle to each other. When the bowlis turned lengthwise the side walls of the slot 101 engage the opposite.sides of the neck 100 thus to guide the bowl in this movement. TheoppositeV ends 102', 103 of the slot constitute stops to limit thismovement. When the bowl is turned edgewise the slot 101 turns on theneck 100. A flat spring 104 is connected at oneend with the handle 51aand has itsv other endA engaged in a notch 105 in the bow-l. This springyieldingly holds the bowl in one position and permits it to be turned todiiferent positions relative to the handle, when the bowl contacts withthe different portions of the fruit pit.

It is to be noted that the cuttingl edges of both forms of spoonsdescribed above are at the convex surface of the spoon sol that saidedges will not contact with any portion of the irregular-shaped pit whenthe bowl is operating about the pit.

Having fully described a preferred embodiment of this invention and theoperation in connection therewith, it is to be understood that I do notwish to limit myself to the speciic construction herein disclosed whichmay be varied at will without departing from the spirit of thisinvention as.y

pointed out in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for pitting fruit, the combination of a pitting spoonfashioned to conform to the curvature of a fruit pit, and

means for operating the spoon to conform to A the curvature of a fruitpitrwhile cutting the fiesh of the fruit from the pit.

2. In a machine for pitting fruit, the combination of a plurality ofoscillating spoons, a plurality of slitting knives, means for operatingthe slitting knives to slit the fruit, and means for thrusting thespoons through the flesh of the fruit so as to conform to the curvatureof the pit.

3. In a machine for pitting and halving fruit, the combination ofpitting spoons,

slitting knives, and means for operating said knives and oscillatingsaid spoons. Y

4. In a machine for pitting and halving fruit, the combination ofpitting spoons, slit',-

ting knives, means for oscillating and forA imparting rotary motion tosaid spoon-s to cause the same to 'cut the liesh of the fruit from thepit while following the curvature of the pit, and means for operatingsaid knives.

- 5. In a machine for pitting fruit, the combination of pitting spoons,means for holding the fruit, and means for imparting an oscillatory androtary motion to the spoons for causing the said spoons to follow thecurvature of the pit while cutting the saine from the flesh off thefruit. n

6. 111; amachne for pitting fruit, the Coinbination of cam wheels, arocker lever operated by said cam wheels, a connecting link, and pittingspoons oscillated; thereby.

7. In a machine for pittingiLf-ruit, the combination of camv wheels, apawl operated' by saidcam. wheels,l a connecting link, pitting spoonsoscillated thereby and means ,for simultaneously imparting a. rotarymotion to said spoons. A

8. I-n. a machine for pitting fruit, the combination of pitting spoons,means vto oscil latev said spoons, means for imparting rotary motion tosaid spoons and means for causing the spoons to cut Vthe flesh of thefruit from the pit.

9. In a machine for pitting fruit, the conibinationl of pitting spoons,means for iniparting a combined oscillatory and rotary motion to saidspoons while causing said spoons to out the flesh of the fruit from-thepit.

10. In a machine for pittingfruit, combination of pitting` spoons, meansfor imparting a combined oscillatory and rotary motion to said spoonswhile causing said spoons to cut the 'flesh of the fruit from the pit,the path of movements of said spoons conforming to the curvatureof thefruit pit. 1 Y

11. In a machine for pitting and halving fruit, the combination oroscillating and rotating pittingl spoons, slitting knives, means forholding the fruit during the pitting and the slitting operation andmeans for oscillatingx and rotating the pitting spoons.

12. In a machine for ittinff and halvino" fruit, the combination of an;oscillating pitting member, a slitting knife, means to hold the fruit ina predetermined position during the operation of said member and knife,

means for oscillating the pitting .member viie and means for operatingthe slitting knife.

18. In al machine forpitting and hah/ing fruit, the combination ofpitting members having sharp edges, means for simultaneously impartingoscillatory and rotary'motion to. said pitting members whilefoi'cingsaid members into the fruit toc-ut the fiesh of the fruit fromthe` pit, and slitting knives o-py erable in the same plane as thepitting members.

14E. In a machine for pitting and halv-ing fruit, the combination of?pitting members having sharp edges, means for simultaneously impartingoscillatory and rota-ry motion to said pitting members while forcingsaid members into the fruit to.I cut the fiesli of the fruit'from thepit, slitting knives operable in the lsaine plane as the pittingniembers, and means for positioning and holding said fruit. Y

15. In a machine for pitting and halving knives in contact with the pitof the fruit,A

and means for operating one of said knives to eject the fruit after thesplitting ofthe fruit and the cutting of the pit from the flesh of thefruit by said pittingA members.

'17. In a machine for pitting and halving fruit, the combination ofpitting'members, means for imparting oscillating and rotary motion tosaid members, splitting knives, means for actuating saidknives to splitthe fruit and hold said knives in contact .with

the pit during .the oscillating and rotary motion of the pittingmembers, and means for ejecting the pit upon the completion thereof. p y

1S. In a machine for pitting fruit, the combination of pitting spoons,means to oscillate the spoons in planes toward and from the pit of thefruit and to impart rotary motion in planes transverse to the planes ofsaid oscillatory motion.

19. In a machine for pitting fruit, the combination of a plurality ofpitting spoons, each spoon comprising a shank, a concave spoon bowl, andmeans pivotallyconnecting the spoon bowl to the shank.

20. In combination in a fruit pitting ,machine, oscillating concavespoon bowls, means to move said spoons longitudinally into the fruit,means to hold said spoons in contact with the pit, means for splittingtheV fruit and means for ejecting the fruit pit.

2l. In a fruit pitting machine, the combination of means for holding thefruit, means for splitting the fruit, pitting spoons, means forimparting oscillatory and rotary motion to said pitting spoons whilemoved in contact with the fruit pit for cutting the flesh 0f the fruitfrom the fruit pit, and means for ejecting the fruit pit. n

22. In combination in a fruit pitting machine, oscillating spoonsincluding shanks having a shoulder and pivoted concave spoon bowls,means to move said spoons longitudinally into the fruit, means to holdsaid bowls in contact with the fruit pit, means for engaging saidshoulder to move one of said spoons away from said pit and means forejecting the pit.

23. In combination in a fruit -pitting machine, oscillating spoons,slitting knives, means for thrusting said knives through the and holdingsaid knives in engagement said spoons, means with the pit and means tolactuate saidA operating said'v clamping ymeans and for disengaging `thesaid clamping means when in contact with the. pit thereof, lmeans forsaid spoons have completed cutting theV flesh ofthe fruit from the pit.A

25. In a fruit pitting machine, the combination of means tor clampingthe fruit in a predetermined position, oscillating pitting spoons, meansfor oscillating and rotating for moving saidk spoons into the fruit incontactwith the pit thereof therebycutting the iiesh of the fruit fromthe .pit,means `for operating said. clamping means' and, means todisengage the clamping means when lsaid operating means is released. y

26g-In av -fruit pitting machine, the combination of slitting knives,yeach comprising a blade portion and a shank and a lever secured to saidshank having curved bearing surfaces, guideways for said curved bearingsurfaces to hold the knives in approximately vertical aliiiement, one ofthe guideways having a shoulder and the other a slot, and means tothrust the-knives upwardly to efrfect engagement of the curved bearingsurfaces with the shoulder and slotrespectively.

27. In a fruit pitting machine, means for holding the vfruit, means Jforsplitting the fruit, meansv including pitting spoons having oscillatoryand rotary motion while moved in contact with the fruit pit for cuttingthe flesh of the fruit from the fruit pit, and means 'for ejecting thefruit pit,

28. In a machine for pitting fruit, theA combination o`p-itting spoons,means for thrusting the spoons into the fruit and 'for concurrentlyimparting a combined oscillatory and rotary motion to said spoons.

29. In a machine for pitting fruit, the combination of pitting spoons,means forv thrusting the spoons into the fruit and for concurrentlyimparting a combined oscillatory and rotary motion to said spoons, thepath ot' movements of said spoons conforming to the curvature of thefruit pit.

30.`In a machine for pitting fruit, the combination of means for holdingthe fruit, a plurality of pitting spoons, each spoon comprising a shank,a concave spoon bowl movably connected with said shank, said bowl havinga sharpened edge terminating in a point, and means for thrusting thespoon into the fruit.

31. In a machine Jfor pitting fruit, a pitting spoon comprising a shankmember, and a concave spoon bowl connected by a ball and socket joint tothe shank member,

In a machine for pitting fruit, Vthe combination of `a fruit receivingrecess, a plurality or' pitting spoons, means for hold`- ing; the fruitwithin the recess, means for imparting; a rotary motion to 'said spoons,means to 'oscillate said spoons., and means -for causing the spoons toont the fleshef the fruit from the pit.

33. In a machine for pitting fruit, the combination oi" :a recess, meansfor holding' the 'fruit in l'the recess, said means comp-risingresilient contact pads, a 4plurality of pittingl spoons, slittinglknives, and means for operating` said knives and said pitting spoons.

34. In a machine for pitting fruit, the combinati-0n of 4a frame, acover for vthe frame, fruit receiving recesses formed in the cover,pitting spoons, slitting` knives, means for holding the fruit intherecess, and means for thrusting said knives 'and oscillating saidspoons.

85. In a machine for pitting fruit, the combination of ka frame, aVfruit receiving recess, means for holding the fruit in the recess, adrive yshalt't journaled in the frame,

a plurality `of pitting spoons, a pluralitj or slitting' knives, meansdriven `from the drive shaft for 'oscillating and for impartrotarymotion to said spoons to cause the same .to cut the 'flesh of the fruitfrom the pit While following the curvature of the with the knives, camWheels, la pawl rotated;

by 'said `cam Wheels, a connecting link connecting fthepawl with thespoons 'whereby an oscillatory movement is imparted to the spo-eins,means for simultaneously imparting' a rotary motion to said spoons`Signed at San Francisco, California, this 21st fda'y for" January1924i.

ERNEST A. MEACHAM.

Yao

